A Russian court sentenced Georgian citizen Giorgi Partsvania in absentia to 28 years in prison for participating in hostilities on the Ukrainian side.

An Armenian court has rejected a motion by the defense of arrested billionaire and Russian citizen Samvel Karapetyan to post $1 million bail, the Hraparak newspaper reported, citing the businessman's lawyers.

The first court hearing in the Meydan TV case took place in Baku. The court rejected the lawyers' motions to drop the criminal prosecution of the journalists and release them.

At the International Forum in Ashgabat dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, Russian was the primary language of communication among the heads of delegations from the CIS countries, according to Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.

Turkey continues to strengthen Azerbaijan's defense capabilities, viewing it as a fraternal state and a key ally in the region. This was stated by Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, who emphasized that cooperation is based on the principle of "one people, two states, one army."

The Karabulak District Court of Ingushetia fined 37-year-old imam Magomed Sultygov 50,000 rubles for failing to report a crime.

Russian officials commented on Yerevan's statement about possible rapprochement with the European Union and the current state of relations between Russia and Armenia.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze posed for a photo with several politicians, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a forum in Turkmenistan dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust. The Georgian opposition interpreted the presence of representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party at the event alongside Putin as a decision to reconsider the country's foreign policy.

The film "The Letter," about the deportation of the Ingush people, has been banned in Ingushetia. The republic's Ministry of Culture has refused to hold the premiere of Amur Amerkhanov's film, despite it having received a federal grant and having been shown in other regions.

On December 11, a protest took place in front of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow. Participants demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was attending a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Council, release persecuted clergy.